Paddington-Woollahra RSL Sub-Branch

08/10/2026

Today we pause to reflect on those who fought and served in The Battle of Poelcapelle — 9 October 1917

On 9 October 1917, following the costly success at Broodseinde four days earlier, British and Australian forces launched another attack during the Third Battle of Ypres.

The British 49th and 66th Divisions of II ANZAC Corps attacked towards Passchendaele, supported on the right by the Australian 2nd Division of I ANZAC Corps. The operation became known as the Battle of Poelcapelle.

The conditions were horrific.

Since Broodseinde on 4 October, almost continual rain had transformed the battlefield into a quagmire. Roads and tracks were impassable, artillery could not be brought forward in sufficient numbers, and many guns sank into the mud. Am******on was desperately difficult to move from the duckboards to the gun lines, with pack animals becoming trapped and lost in the mud.

As a result, the artillery bombardment was severely weakened. German front-line positions, machine-gun posts and pillboxes were not adequately suppressed before the infantry attack.

The exhausted infantry then had to struggle through the mud towards enemy positions that were still capable of putting up fierce resistance.

The 66th Division in the centre and the Australian 2nd Division on the right initially captured their first objectives and pushed towards their second. But there was insufficient strength to consolidate the gains, and determined German counter-attacks forced them back.

On the left, the 49th Division's attack failed, largely because German wire remained intact and pillboxes had not been effectively neutralised.

The experience demonstrated the brutal reality of fighting at Passchendaele: capturing ground was only half the battle. Holding it against the inevitable German counter-attack required artillery, am******on and exhausted troops to consolidate positions in conditions that often made movement almost impossible.

Charles Bean, the Australian official historian, captured the uncertainty of the operation:

"I suspect that they are making a great, bloody experiment – a huge gamble."

The Battle of Poelcapelle was another costly step towards Passchendaele, fought in some of the worst battlefield conditions of the First World War.

9 October 1917 — Poelcapelle.

RSL NSW
RSL NSW Auxiliaries
ANZAC Legacy
Defence Australia
2nd Division - Australian Army
Australian World War Stories
World War One

07/10/2026

Today the Paddington RSL pauses to reflect on Trooper David Pearce from the Brisbane-based 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment. On the 8th of October 2007, when returning from an engineering reconnaissance mission, Trooper Pearce was killed during a roadside bomb attack on the armoured vehicle (ASLAV) he was driving.

The attack happened just six kilometres away from the Australian base at Tarin Kowt. One other Australian and three Afghan children were also severely wounded in the attack. Trooper Pearce known as "Poppy" to his mates, had enlisted in the Army Reserve in 2002 and transferred to the Australian Regular Army in July 2006. Trooper Pearce was a 41 year old father of two girls and was on his first deployment in Afghanistan, having previously deployed to the Solomon Islands in 05/06. Our thoughts are with David's family and friends today.

His sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Lest We Forget' 🇦🇺🌹

RSL NSW
RSL Queensland Branch Western District Branch Inc.
RSL Queensland
Honor Our Veterans
Virtual War Memorial Australia
ANZAC Legacy
RSL LifeCare
Soldier On Australia
2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment QMI - Australian Army
Defence Australia

06/10/2026

🇦🇺 25 YEARS ON — WE REMEMBER
Twenty-five years ago, Australia answered the call to serve in Afghanistan.

Over the two decades that followed, more than 40,000 Australians deployed as part of the mission. Behind that number were individuals, families, mates and communities who carried the weight of service and sacrifice.

41 Australians lost their lives during the conflict, while others sadly died as a result of injuries and the lasting impacts of their service. We also remember those who have passed away after returning home, carrying experiences that many of us can never fully understand.

More than 260 Australians were wounded during the conflict.

Today, we pause to honour every Australian who served in Afghanistan — those who never came home, those who returned carrying physical and invisible wounds, and the families who stood beside them through it all.

Their courage, commitment and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

We remember. We honour. We will never forget. 🇦🇺

Lest We Forget.

If you or someone you know is struggling, support is available through Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling on 1800 011 046. Free and confidential counselling and support is available to current and former ADF members and their families.

RSL NSW
RSL Australia
NSW Government
Australian Government
Virtual War Memorial Australia
ANZAC Legacy
RSL LifeCare
Soldier On Australia
Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling
Mates4Mates
Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs

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06/10/2026

Vale Corporal Brendan Hannam, age 28, 5th/7th Battalion in the Royal Australian Regiment, who passed in a training accident at the Mount Bundey Training Area, about 100 kilometres south-east of Darwin in the Northern Territory.

Brendan was a junior Non-Commissioned Officer in the 5th/7th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. He served on operational tours to Afghanistan in 2019 under Operation High Road and also trained Ukrainians with the British Armed Forces in the United Kingdom under Operation Kudu.

His loss is felt acutely by his family, friends and the entire Defence community in Darwin and beyond.

Our thoughts are with the soldier’s family, friends and fellow ADF members during this difficult time.

An additional five Australian soldiers were injured. Two of the five remain in a stable condition at a Darwin hospital. The other three personnel are being monitored at an army hospital ward.

We extend our thoughts and best wishes to them and their families as they recover.

05/10/2026

Our thoughts are with the families and friends involved in this tragedy.

Five other soldiers were injured in the incident.